While Traveler has chosen to remain upbeat, and not to dwell on the tough economic times, it’s always good to hear positive news, benefitting both the outdoors and local contractors like that which came today.
Mark Twain National Forest has awarded $2,300,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contracts to improve forest roads and recreation sites.
Eight Missouri construction companies were awarded bids March 23, 2009 totaling $1,535,000 to provide gravel to Forest Service roads damaged by extreme weather over the last few years.
Other Missouri companies awarded contracts for aggregate include KD Crushing, Mineral Point; Evans Farms Excavating, Clubb; Base Rock Minerals, Bonne Terre;  Delaware Stone, Winona  and Gable Stone Company, Willow Springs.
In addition, four Missouri companies will get $169,000 to blade damaged forest roads. The four include James Lawler, Ava; Henson Enterprises, Willow Springs; Chris Harmon Auto, Potosi and Murdick Excavating, Van Buren.
Another $493,903 will provide installation of 25 low-maintenance toilet buildings at Forest Service campgrounds in 11 counties.
New picnic tables, lamp posts and fire rings totaling $165,000 will also be installed in high use campgrounds, while another $25,000 will provide new signs. The remainder will be used for supplies to install recreation site furniture and signs.
“We’re looking forward to working with these contractors to maintain and improve our forest roads and recreation facilities,” said Mark Twain Forest Supervisor David Whittekiend. –USFS news release.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 pm and is filed under Mark Twain Forest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.